Intra-Party Conflicts and Party Stability in Nigeria: A Study of the Alliance for Democracy (AD)

https://doi.org/10.35912/amor.v3i2.1283
Published: Nov 24, 2022

Abstract:

Purpose: The study examined the effects of the strategies employed by the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the main opposition party in the 1999 general elections in Nigeria, to manage its internal conflicts.

Research methodology: This study is qualitative. It analyzed secondary data on Nigeria’s Fourth Republic to explain the management of intra-party conflicts in the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

Results: It found that the AD was able to record remarkable successes in the 1998/1999 general elections as a result of its internal mechanism for mediation, bargaining, consultations, and negotiations among the party members. However, its inability to employ effective management strategies to settle internal crises before and after the 2003 general elections signaled the loss of its status as one of the leading parties in the country.

Limitations: Despite being the main opposition party in the 1999 general elections, literature on the AD is scanty. This limited insights into events that culminated in the AD’s loss of status as a frontline political party in Nigeria.

Contribution: It enriches the literature on the causes of intra-party conflicts and the effects of mismanaging such conflicts on party stability. It also provides deep insights into the reasons for AD’s loss of status from being the main opposition party in Nigeria between 1999 and 2003 to being deregistered in 2020.

Keywords:
1. intra-party conflicts
2. management strategies
3. political parties
4. party primaries
5. party stability
Authors:
1 . Gbeke Adenuga
Federal University Oye Ekiti, Nigeria
2 . Adetoun O. E. Adenuga
Distance Learning Institute, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
3 . Oluwadamilola Oderinde
Tai Solarin College of Education, Ogun State, Nigeria
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Adenuga, G., Adenuga, A., & Oderinde, O. (2022). Intra-Party Conflicts and Party Stability in Nigeria: A Study of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). Annals of Management and Organization Research, 3(2), 141–151. https://doi.org/10.35912/amor.v3i2.1283
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Issue & Section
Vol. 3 No. 2 (2021): November
Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

References

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    Moliki, A. O. (2020). Intra-party crises, defections and electoral performance in 2015 general elections in Kwara State, Nigeria. KIU Journal of Social Sciences, 6(2), 27-37.

    Mimiko, N. O. (2007). Party formation and electoral contest in Nigeria: the Labour Party and the 2007 election in Ondo State. Journal of African Elections, 6(2), 114-133.

    Momodu, A. J., & Matudi, G. I. (2013). The implications of executive-legislative conflicts on good governance in Nigeria. Public Policy and Administration Research, 3(8), 30-42.

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    Nwanegbo, C. J., & Alumona, I. M. (2011). Incumbency factor and democratic consolidation in Nigeria’s fourth republic. The Social Sciences, 6(2), 125-130.

    Obiyan, A. S. (1999). Political parties under the Abubakar transition program and democratic stability in Nigeria. African Issues, 27(1), 41-43.

    Ogbeidi, M. M. (2010). A culture of failed elections: Revisiting democratic elections in Nigeria, 1959-2003. Historia Actual Online, 21, 43-56.

    Ojo, E. O. (2019). Party primaries and candidate selection in Nigeria, 1999-2009. POLAC Historical Review, 3(1), 51-64.

    Omenma, T. J., & Onyishi, I. E. (2014). Party nomination techniques in Nigeria: their impact on women representation in local politics in Enugu State, 1999-2013. Journal of Gender, Information and Development in Africa (JGIDA), 3(1_2), 85-124.

    Omotola, J. S. (2012). Democratization and Citizenship: The Gender Dimensions of Political Representation in Nigeria. In Linking Environment, Democracy and Gender. Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

    Omotola, J. S. (2010). Political parties and the quest for political stability in Nigeria. Taiwan Journal of Democracy, 6(2), 125-145.

    Osaghae, E. E. (1992). The status of state governments in Nigeria's federalism. Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 22(3), 181-200.

    Papagianni, K. (2008). Power sharing, transitional governments and the role of mediation. Oslo Forum Network of Mediators.

    Pervin, M. T., & Begum, R. (2022). Engaging employees in management and decision-making process: A case study on “Vision Garments Limited”. Annals of Human Resource Management Research, 2(1), 71–85. https://doi.org/10.35912/ahrmr.v2i1.1225

    Peters, B. G., & Pierre, J. (2020). A typology of populism: understanding the different forms of populism and their implications. Democratization, 27(6), 928-946.

    Pierson, C., & Thomson, J. (2018). Allies or opponents? Power-sharing, civil society, and gender. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, 24(1), 100-115.

    Popoola, I. S. (2004). Culture, good government and democracy: A political communication commentary on the political behaviour of the Yoruba tribe in South-Western Nigeria. Journal of Social Sciences, 9(2), 95-103.

    Putra, Y. S., & Istiyani, A. (2022). Developing organizational resilience with the mediating role of leader–member exchange. Annals of Human Resource Management Research, 2(1), 59–69. https://doi.org/10.35912/ahrmr.v2i1.1120

    Saka, L., Adebiyi, M. O., & Bakare, R. A. (2019). Political parties and opposition politics in Nigeria’s fourth republic. Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 8(1), 537-549.

    Sastrawan, H., Dewi, F. G., & Yuliansyah, Y. (2020). The effect of budgetary participation on managerial performance: internal control and organizational commitments as intervening variables. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 1(1), 39–51. https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v1i1.131

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    Yagboyaju, D. A., & Akinola, A. O. (2019). Nigerian state and the crisis of governance: A critical exposition. Sage Open, 9(3), 2158244019865810.

    Yagboyaju, D. A., & Simbine, A. T. (2020). Politics, political parties and the party system in Nigeria: Who's interest. International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences, 89, 33-50.

    Zamoum, K., & Gorpe, T. S. (2018). Crisis management: A historical and conceptual approach for a better understanding of today’s crises. In Crisis Management-Theory and Practice. IntechOpen. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.76198

    Zartman, I. W. (2019). Dynamics and constraints in negotiating internal conflicts. In I. W. Zartman (Ed.). A pioneer in conflict management and area studies (pp. 161-172). Springer, Cham.

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  2. Adebanwi, W. (2010). The clergy, culture, and political conflicts in Nigeria. African Studies Review, 53(3), 121-142.
  3. Adegbami, A., & Uche, C. I. (2015). Ethnicity and ethnic politics: An impediment to political development in Nigeria. Public Administration Research, 4(1), 59-67.
  4. Adenuga, G. (2022). The Indigeneity clause and the mismanagement of ethnic diversity in Nigeria. Dynamics of Politics and Democracy, 1(2), 97-107.
  5. Adenuga, G. A. (2000). Party nominations in Nigeria: The Alliance for Democracy (AD) as a case study. An unpublished B.Sc. project submitted to the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
  6. Adesoji, A. O. (2017). Yoruba ethnic nationalism, power elite politics and the Nigerian state, 1948–2007. African Identities, 15(2), 187-207.
  7. Adewuyi, O. O., Salami, A. A., & Dogara, W. F. (2021). Conflict management mechanism in contemporary Nigeria: problems and prospects. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 8(3), 88-100.
  8. Agbaenyi, A. N., & Ibebunjo, B. (2022). Oligarchy and political parties in Nigeria: The financing and returns adventure perspective. Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science, 10(3), 55-62.
  9. Ajayi, K. (2006). Security forces, electoral conduct and the 2003 general elections in Nigeria. Journal of Social Sciences, 13(1), 57-66.
  10. Alas, R., & Gao, J. (2012). Introduction to crisis management. In Crisis management in Chinese organizations (pp. 1-8). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
  11. Aleyomi, M. B. (2013). Intra-party conflicts in Nigeria: The case study of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 15(4), 281-296.
  12. Awofeso, O., Obah-Akpowoghaha, N. G., & Ogunmilade, A. (2017). The effect of intra-party conflict management mechanism on democratic consolidation in Nigeria’s fourth republic. Developing Country Studies, 7(7), 96-102.
  13. Badmus, B. (2021, December 18). The intrigues that made Tinubu, Akande governors in 1999-Adebanjo. Nigerian Tribune Online.
  14. Bans-Akutey, A., Abdullahi, A. M., Afriyie, E. O. (2021). Effect of recruitment and selection practices on organisational strategic goals, Annals of Management and Organization Research, 3(1), 35-51.
  15. Bonkat-Jonathan, L., & Nandi, L. A. (2020). Politics of de-registration of political parties in Nigeria: Court of Appeal judgment and the way forward. National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies. https://ir.nilds.gov.ng/handle/123456789/432
  16. Byfield, J. A. (2016). In her own words: Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and the auto/biography of an archive. Palimpsest, 5(2), 107-127.
  17. Cheeseman, N., & de Gramont, D. (2017). Managing a mega-city: Learning the lessons from Lagos. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 33(3), 457-477.
  18. Chidi, N. J. (2015). Politics of merger of political parties in Nigeria: The past and present efforts to evolve two major parties. Journal of Policy and Development Studies, 289(1850), 1-12.
  19. Debus, M., & Gross, M. (2016). Coalition formation at the local level: Institutional constraints, party policy conflict, and office-seeking political parties. Party Politics, 22(6), 835-846.
  20. Dickson, M. E., & Ita, V. E. (2022). Reassessing ethnic-based party formation, proliferation and political instability in Nigeria: A periscope into the future. Asian Research Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 18(2), 1-14.
  21. Durotoye, A. (2014). Political assassination and Nigeria’s 4th republic: 1999-2007. Kuwait Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management, 3(11), 1-8.
  22. Ekundayo, W. J. (2016). Political parties, party system and leadership recruitment in Nigeria since independence in 1960. Public Policy and Administration Research, 6(5), 39-44.
  23. Eme, O. I., & Anyadike, N. (2011). Intra and inter-party crisis in Nigeria’ s fourth republic: Implications for the sustainability and consolidation of democracy in post third term Nigeria. Journal of Social Science and Public Policy, 3(13), 38-52.
  24. Gidado, T. O. (2018). Internal democracy and leadership crisis in the Nigerian legislature. In Africa Now! (pp. 167-187). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
  25. Ismail, O. (2013). From “area-boyism” to “junctions and bases”: youth social formation and the micro structures of violence in Lagos Island. In State Fragility, State Formation, and Human Security in Nigeria (pp. 87-109). Palgrave Macmillan, New York.
  26. Le Van, A. C., Pitso, T., & Adebo, B. (2003). Elections in Nigeria: Is the third time a charm? Journal of African Elections, 2(2), 30-47.
  27. Lewis, P. (2003). Nigeria: elections in a fragile regime. Journal of Democracy, 14(3), 131-144.
  28. Lewis, P. (1999). Nigeria: From despair to expectation. Current History, 98(628), 223.
  29. Mavalla, A. G. M., Adenuga, G. A. & Mbagwu, J. (2016). The role of mediation in security management in Nigeria. International Journal of Innovative Research & Development, 5(13), 28-35.
  30. Moliki, A. O. (2020). Intra-party crises, defections and electoral performance in 2015 general elections in Kwara State, Nigeria. KIU Journal of Social Sciences, 6(2), 27-37.
  31. Mimiko, N. O. (2007). Party formation and electoral contest in Nigeria: the Labour Party and the 2007 election in Ondo State. Journal of African Elections, 6(2), 114-133.
  32. Momodu, A. J., & Matudi, G. I. (2013). The implications of executive-legislative conflicts on good governance in Nigeria. Public Policy and Administration Research, 3(8), 30-42.
  33. Ndubuisi, J. O. (2018). Comparative legacies of godfatherism to party politics and democracy in Nigeria: 1960-2015. Journal of Nation-building & Policy Studies, 2(1), 73-94.
  34. Nwanegbo, C. J., & Alumona, I. M. (2011). Incumbency factor and democratic consolidation in Nigeria’s fourth republic. The Social Sciences, 6(2), 125-130.
  35. Obiyan, A. S. (1999). Political parties under the Abubakar transition program and democratic stability in Nigeria. African Issues, 27(1), 41-43.
  36. Ogbeidi, M. M. (2010). A culture of failed elections: Revisiting democratic elections in Nigeria, 1959-2003. Historia Actual Online, 21, 43-56.
  37. Ojo, E. O. (2019). Party primaries and candidate selection in Nigeria, 1999-2009. POLAC Historical Review, 3(1), 51-64.
  38. Omenma, T. J., & Onyishi, I. E. (2014). Party nomination techniques in Nigeria: their impact on women representation in local politics in Enugu State, 1999-2013. Journal of Gender, Information and Development in Africa (JGIDA), 3(1_2), 85-124.
  39. Omotola, J. S. (2012). Democratization and Citizenship: The Gender Dimensions of Political Representation in Nigeria. In Linking Environment, Democracy and Gender. Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
  40. Omotola, J. S. (2010). Political parties and the quest for political stability in Nigeria. Taiwan Journal of Democracy, 6(2), 125-145.
  41. Osaghae, E. E. (1992). The status of state governments in Nigeria's federalism. Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 22(3), 181-200.
  42. Papagianni, K. (2008). Power sharing, transitional governments and the role of mediation. Oslo Forum Network of Mediators.
  43. Pervin, M. T., & Begum, R. (2022). Engaging employees in management and decision-making process: A case study on “Vision Garments Limited”. Annals of Human Resource Management Research, 2(1), 71–85. https://doi.org/10.35912/ahrmr.v2i1.1225
  44. Peters, B. G., & Pierre, J. (2020). A typology of populism: understanding the different forms of populism and their implications. Democratization, 27(6), 928-946.
  45. Pierson, C., & Thomson, J. (2018). Allies or opponents? Power-sharing, civil society, and gender. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, 24(1), 100-115.
  46. Popoola, I. S. (2004). Culture, good government and democracy: A political communication commentary on the political behaviour of the Yoruba tribe in South-Western Nigeria. Journal of Social Sciences, 9(2), 95-103.
  47. Putra, Y. S., & Istiyani, A. (2022). Developing organizational resilience with the mediating role of leader–member exchange. Annals of Human Resource Management Research, 2(1), 59–69. https://doi.org/10.35912/ahrmr.v2i1.1120
  48. Saka, L., Adebiyi, M. O., & Bakare, R. A. (2019). Political parties and opposition politics in Nigeria’s fourth republic. Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 8(1), 537-549.
  49. Sastrawan, H., Dewi, F. G., & Yuliansyah, Y. (2020). The effect of budgetary participation on managerial performance: internal control and organizational commitments as intervening variables. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 1(1), 39–51. https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v1i1.131
  50. Strobel, M. (2001). For women and the nation: Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti of Nigeria. Journal of Women's History, 13(2), 190-190.
  51. Strother, S. C. (2016). Butterfly theory of crisis management. In Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance. Singer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland.
  52. Tsaro, G., Egobueze, A., & Nwaoburu, L. (2021). Intra-party conflicts and democratization in Nigeria: An examination of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State, 2009-2019. African Political Science Review, 13(1), 150-166.
  53. Yagboyaju, D. A. (2021). Two decades of democratisation (1999-2020) and intra-party crises in Nigeria’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC). Asian Journal of African Studies, 50, 121-153.
  54. Yagboyaju, D. A., & Akinola, A. O. (2019). Nigerian state and the crisis of governance: A critical exposition. Sage Open, 9(3), 2158244019865810.
  55. Yagboyaju, D. A., & Simbine, A. T. (2020). Politics, political parties and the party system in Nigeria: Who's interest. International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences, 89, 33-50.
  56. Zamoum, K., & Gorpe, T. S. (2018). Crisis management: A historical and conceptual approach for a better understanding of today’s crises. In Crisis Management-Theory and Practice. IntechOpen. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.76198
  57. Zartman, I. W. (2019). Dynamics and constraints in negotiating internal conflicts. In I. W. Zartman (Ed.). A pioneer in conflict management and area studies (pp. 161-172). Springer, Cham.